Flame-extinguishing compositions



United States Patent 3,479,286 FLAME-EXTINGUISHING COMPOSITIONS Gian Paolo Gambaretto, Padova, Paolo Rinaldo, Venice,

and Mario Palato, Padova, Italy, assignors to Montecatini Edison S.p.A., Milan, Italy, a corporation of Milan, Italy No Drawing. Filed Sept. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 580,212 Claims priority, application Italy, Sept. 22, 1965, 21,090/65 Int. Cl. A62d 1/00 US. Cl. 252-8 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A flame-extinguishing composition containing a completely halogenated alkane, having at least two fluorine atoms and at least one bromine atom per molecule and a fluorohydrocarbon having at least one hydrogen atom per molecule. The composition can include, optionally, a propellant such as sulfur-hexafluoride and carbon dioxide. The molar ratio of the fluoro-hydrocarbon to the completely halogenated alkane ranges between substantially 0.2 and 5.

Our present invention relates to flame-extinguishing compositions containing high molecular weight, low car- 'bon number haloalkanes and, more particularly, to improved first-extinguishing compositions containing brominated Freons, i.e. fluorobromoalkanes and fluorochlorobromoalkanes.

It is known that brominated fluoro carbons of the Freon type (i.e. having one or two carbon atoms and 4 or 6 halogen atoms, primarily bromine and fluorine) have flame-extinguishing properties alone or in combination with other substances. Such compounds may be used as propellants for liquids or gases and thus imparts a flameextinguishing character to the mixture dispensed. Since these compounds are generally nontoxic or are of low toxicity, they do not possess the disadvantages of such flame-extinguishing materials as carbon tetrachloride and other chemical compounds which are corrosive or chemically react with their environment.

Apparently, the bromine atom or atoms in the molecule provide carbon-bromine bonds activatable at low energies and thus at relatively low temperatures to produce free radicals which serve as chain-terminating reactants when they are involved in the chain reactions of the combustion process. In efiect, therefore, the flame-extinguishing fluorobromoalkanes act as chain-reaction moderators or limiters by removing possible reaction participants from the com bustion zone. Another advantage of the use of such compounds as flame-extinguishing substances is that the relatively high fluorine content and the proportionally low chlorine content or even the absence of chlorine ensure that the compound will be sufliciently volatile to be used effectively in the flame-extinguishing process at low ambient temperatures and, further, that the flame-extinguishing substance will not break down to poisonous or toxic compounds such as phosgene. The high vapor density of these products permits of their use in open spaces since they remain for prolonged periods in the combustion zone and are not readily dispersed by diffusion.

Furthermore, the bromofiuoro mono and dialkanes and especially the bromofluoro methanes and ethanes having at least two fluorine atoms and one bromine atom are characterized by a comparatively low toxicity, particularly when contrasted with the chloromethanes and bromomethanes (e.g. carbon tetrachloride, methylbromide and chlorobromomethanes) commonly used heretofore in flame-extinguishing compositions. To demonstrate the relative toxicities of the haloalkanes, we list below in Table I the toxicities of various haloalkanes in accordance 3,479,286 Patented Nov. 18, 1969 with the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) classification which indicates a decrease in toxicity from class 1 to class 6. In class 1, compounds such as sulfur dioxide are included Whereas trifiuorobromomethane (CBrF is considered to be in class 6. Compounds such as carbon tetrachloride are the most toxic of the haloalkanes (class 3).

TABLE I.TOXICITY OF HALOALKANES The use of brominated Freons (e.g. bromofluoromethanes) in commercial flame-extinguishing compositions and as flame-extinguishing agents has heretofore been strictly limited because of the high costs of these compounds. Thus it has been necessary to employ less efiicient flameextinguishing agents as propellants and the like because of economical considerations.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved flame-extinguishing composition of matter with highly efiicien-t flame-extinguishing properties but of relatively low cost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flameextinguishing low-cost propellant which is free from the disadvantaged characterizing toxic haloalkanes.

We have found that these objects can be attained with a flame-extinguishing composition of matter which comprises at least one brominated Freon (e.g. a bromofiuoromethane or ethane containing at least two fluorine atoms and at least one bromide atom) in combination with one or more fiuorochlorohydrocarbons containing at least one hydrogen atom per molecule. It has been discovered, surprisingly, that the combination of a fluorochlorohydrocarbon containing at least one hydrogen atom per molecule with the bromofiuoroalkane imparts to the flame-extinguishing combination synergistic effects with respect to the flame-extinguishing qualities even though the use of a fluorochlorohydrocarbon of this nature might be thought to decrease the fire-extinguishing characteristics because of its own properties. Furthermore it has been found that the combination (i.e. the combination of at least one completely halogenated bromofluoromethane or ethane with at least one fluorochlorohydrocarbon-containing at least one hydrogen atom per molecule-) does not increase the toxicity of the flame-extinguishing system above that to be expected from the bromofluorohydrocarbon alone. Moreover, the fluorochlorohydrocarbon acts as a propellant for 3 4 the brominated Freon and greatly facilitates the use of the position in percent, we have reported also the percentage composition asa flame-extinguishing agent. diflference between the quantity of composition theo- Thus the mixture of fiuorochlorohydrocarbons with retically necessary, calculated to extinguish the flame on brominated Freon gave rise to compositions with a relathe basis of the known extinguishing capacity of the sintively high flame-extinguishing efiiciency. gle components, and the quantity which has been found The propelling coadjuvant for the brominated Freon 5 to be actually necessary.

TABLE II Composition Lowest concentn, percent in the liquid (mol) phase, Dilfcrcnce, Agent percent mol Theoretical Actual percent 1 CFzBl-CFzBl should, according to the present invention, consist of a From the data listed in the table it can be seen how the fluorochlorohydrocarbon (having at least one hydrogen mixtures 7, 8 and 9, according to the present invention, atom per molecule) of relatively low toxicity, low boiling containing the dilferent brominated Freon (actual extinpoint, high solubility in the chlorinated Freon and good guishing agents) and a fluorochlorohydrocarbon containability to generate chain-reaction-terminating free radicals ing at least one hydrogen atom in the molecule (CF CIH), by thermal decomposition. The propellant and coadjuvant have flame-extinguishing powers far higher than those exfiuorinated hydrocarbons should have a carbon number of pected from their composition.

one or two, a fluorine content per molecule of at least More particularly, as we can see from the above mentwo and at least one hydrogen atom per molecule; fiuorinetioned values, the efficiency being equal, for the extinguishcontaining chlorinated hydrocarbons containing at most ing composition according to the present invention a lower one atom of chlorine per molecule are also suitable. Best consumption of brominated Freons is requested, i.e. up results are obtained with coadjuvants such as CF CIH, to 78%, in comparison with the theoretical consumption. CF H, CF H and CF -CF H. The brominated Freons are We claim:

preferably one or two carbon fully halogenated haloalkanes 1. A flame-extinguishing composition consisting essen having at least two fluorine atoms and at least one brotially of at least one completely halogenated alkane semine atom per molecule. Best results are obtained with lected from the group consisting of CF Br-CF Br, CF Br, CF CIBr,CF Br-CF Br,CF Br and CF Br. CF Br and CF BrCl, and at least one coadjuvant ad- While the optimum ratio of the fluorinated hydrocarbon mixed therewith and selected from the group consisting of to the brominated Freon depends upon the nature of the CF ClH, CF H, CF H-CF H and CF H the molar ratio particular compound, it has been found that the molar raof said coadjuvant to said completely halogenated altio of the fluorine-containing hydrocarbon adjuvant to the kane ranging between substantially 0.2 and 5. brominated Freon (bromofluoro tetrahalomethane or hex- 2. A flame-extinguishing composition consisting essenaloethane) should range from 0.2 to 5. In addition, the tially of the mixture of the completely halogenated alkane combinations may be used directly or mixed with addiand the coadjuvant defined in claim 1, and a propellant tives having low toxicity, propelling characteristics and selected from the group consisting of sulfur-hexafluoride high stability. Additives of this latter type include carbon and carbon dioxide.

dioxide and sulfur hexafluoride.

Example To determine the lowest concentration of an extinguishing composition in air sulficient to prevent the spreading of 2,653,130 9/1953 Elsefinan 252"8 a flame, we made use of an apparatus of the type de- 2,837,891 6/1958 Sta1ak 2528 scribed in detail by E. C. Creiz in Journal of Research 3,276,999 10/1966 Pent et 252-4;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS at the National Bureau of Standards, volume 65A, No. FOREIGN PATENTS 4, July-August 1961, page 389.

Propane was used as the fuel and supplied with a feed- 227557 3/1960 Austraha' ing rate comprised between 150-250 cc./ minute; supporter OTHER REFERENCES otcopabustion was air at a feed rate between 5 and 7 liters/ Technical Bulletin, 1962, L du Pom de mmu l t D 1. B2 1-6 1' d In Table H the data obtained as the lowest concentramoms W1 mmg on e Pp re w on tion in the air at the moment of the extinction of the ex- MAYER WEINBLATT, Primary Examiner tinguishing agents tested alone or in mutual admlxture are set forth. US. Cl. X.R.

For the extinguishing composition, constituted, accord- 60 252 3 ing to the present invention, by mixtures of a brominated Freon with a propelling agent, besides the molar corn- 

